Dish-washing cabinet



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. S. STEVENS.

DISH WASHING CABINET. No. 346,072. Patented July 20, 1886.

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(No Model.)' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J58. STEVENS.

DISH WASHING CABINET.

N0. 346,072. Pate Pas July 20, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. STEVENS, OF AVALON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF SEVEN-TENTHS TO GEORGE OAUNTER, OF SAME PLACE, AND CYRUS J. KEPHART, OF

TOLEDO, IOWA.

DISH-WASHING CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,072, dated July 20, 1886.

Application filed April 14, 1885. Serial No. 162,189. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES S. STEVENS, of Avalon, Livingston county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dish-VVashing Cabinets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved article of kitchen furniture; and

it consists, principally, in the devices and combination of devices hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which 1 similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Figure l is a plan of the apparatus with cover removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the apparatus on line 4. 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents the apparatus in perspective. Fig. 5 is a detail View showing a portion of a dish-supporting rack having the knifesheath attached thereto, and Fig. 6 is a like view of the spoon-holding device.

The cabinet is represented by the letter A, and its lower portion contains shelves (1*, that may be used for supporting either dishes or food. Access may be had to the shelves by way of the doors B, which are hinged to open outwardly, as shown. One or more sliding drawers, 9, that may be used for containing table utensils-such as knivesmapkins, &c.-are located just above the shelves at Should any one desire to build a dishwasher alone, without the conveniences of the entire cabinet, the lower part of the cabinet containing the shelves and the drawers may be dispensed with,and the upper part of the cabinet,

comprising only the dish-washer, may be built alone.

The upper portion of the cabinet is constructed so as to contain a watertight tank, B The bottom a of this tank should be of sheet metal and substantially semi-cylindrical, so that water contained therein may flow to its center. Across the tank is journaled a shaft, 0, carrying paddles d. This shaft is driven by means of the gear-wheel e, meshing with a pinion, 00, which is located upon one end of said shaft, as shown. The wheel 6 is provided with a handle, e so that it may be revolved by hand.

At one side of the paddleshaft O a rack, B, for holding plates and large dishes while being washed, is secured to the ends of the tank. This rack is composed of a rectangular frame and a series of wires, it, that are bent somewhat to the form of a semicircle and have each of their ends embedded in the frame. A rack, or, is likewise secured upon the opposite side ofthe paddle-shaft. It is similar in construction to the rack 13, excepting that its wires h? are affixed to the frame in an oblique position. The object of thus placing the wires 6 5 in this .rack is to admit of dishes being held that are too large for a position in the rack B. Plates and dishes are to be placed edgewise between the wires, so that they will be held apart from each other.

Just above the shaft 0, out of the way of the paddles, is removably located a rack, F, for supporting saucers and other small dishes.

9 represents the wires of the rack F.

A screen, 70, provided with cross-rods 70 for supporting cups and glasses, is attached to the back part of the tank by hinges a and a screen, k for a like purpose, but devoid of cross-bars, is affixed to the front portion of the central rack, F, by means of .hinges k. The central rack and its attached screen rest upon lugs a, projecting upon the inner surface of the tank, and may be readily removed for access to the lower racks, a B. Rods or bars a extend across the tank in the direction of the paddle-shaft, for the purpose of preventing the dishes in the two lower racks from being broken by the revolving paddles. These rods may be as numerous as desired, though I have shown but one for each lower rack.

A small sheath or chamber, 3 having a perforated bottom, depends from the rack F, between it and the screen it, and is used for supporting knives and forks while being washed. It is affixed to the rack F by means of small nails or screws a. I do not limit myself to the exact position of the sheath that I have shown, for it would operate if its 1oca tion were changed. A coiled spring, Z, also attached to the rack F, a little to one side of the sheath 2 performs a like service for spoons. In supporting the spoons by the spring their handles are to be placed between contiguous coils thereof. Each end a of the said spring is embedded in the rack F.

In the operation of cleansing dishes, water having a temperature as near the boilingpoint as possible should be used in the tank, and no dish-towel need be employed upon the dishes, the heat absorbed by them from the hot water dashed over them by the paddles proving all sufficient to dry them perfectly clean.

To empty the tank of soiled water, it is only necessary to raise the lever P, thereby exposing the waste-water aperture as behind it. The cover should of course be closed down when the paddles are to be revolved. A dripspout, i, is'located below the aperture 00 Should it be desired, the cabinet ('an be made of such size as will accommodate two or more tanks with paddles, &o., arranged therein, and no matter What the size the entire apparatus can be easily moved about, if fitted with casters; Likewise, the dish-cleaning apparatus can be built entirely detached from the cupboard.

I do not broadly claim revolving paddles as means for agitating water contained in a tank, for I am aware that such are not new; but

NVhat I claim is A dish washing cabinet consisting of a semi-cylindrical water-tank, a shaft provided with paddles adapted to operate therein, mechanism upon the end of said shaft,whereby the same is operated, racks a and B upon either side, and rack F above said paddle-shaft, knife-chamber q, spoon-holder Z, and slanting screens 7c k", hinged upon either side of said rack F, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof, I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES S. STEVENS.

IVitnesses:

SETH H. PETERS, J OHN S. MILNER. 

